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Fracking blockade chaos

Statement on Provocateurs, Informants, and the conflict in New Brunswick

In the aftermath of the RCMP raid on the anti-fracking blockade in New Brunswick, in Mi’kmaq territory, there has emerged a conspiracy theory that the six police vehicles set on fire were the act of police informants acting as agents provocateurs.

In particular, one individual has been identified and publicly labelled a police informant: Harrison Friesen. It has been implied that he, along with one or two others, were responsible for several Molotov cocktails thrown at police lines and the torching of the police vehicles....

This is what one radical journalist, an eyewitness present during the conflict on Oct 17, stated about the burned cop cars and the theories of who burned them:

“To all the people spreading misinfo about provocateurs at Elsipogtog, listen up. RCMP cars were not burned by provocateurs. It was an expression of rage by an angry crowd sick of being trampled by the government. People put their cameras away as the cars were being lit, as to not incriminate comrades and cheered every time one went up in flames. Hundreds of people witnessed this, so drop all the propaganda and snitch jacketing and raise your glass to all the brave peeps who risked life and limb to protect your fuckin water.” – The Stimulator, Oct 18, 2013

..i think we don't know as yet all the details. people can be pushed and pushed and pushed yet again until something snaps. that is importantant information for all of us to see and understand so that we can make room for this very human condition. and place that responsibility where it belongs..the state and corporations. it is not helpful to suggest that it was provocateurs without evidence. or even that they were immature, irresponsible or assholes. i have/had no intention of dragging up any other debate.

Oh god paolo, here we go. Are these the characters who hailed the arson attack against RBC? And by the way, the cop cars may not have been torched by the cops. The other more likely explanation is immature irresponsible assholes. Either way, once the cinders settle, only the cops and the corporations are left applauding.

ETA: Stupid diversionary post. Ignore it. But leaving it as a reminder to myself.

I didn't mean to blame you for dragging up other debates, paolo. I'm the one who dragged them up. I guess I'm frustrated. We went through months of a student uprising here, where small groups of masked cowards broke windows and gave the Charest Liberals and all other enemies of the students the talking points they needed to pass draconian laws, attack peaceful demonstrators, and confuse the population about what the real issues are. I wish to make it clear that I do not care who torched RCMP cars. What I do care about is these self-styled revolutionaries who try to elevate aimless acts of arson, smashing, and sabotage into acts of mass heroism.

ETA: Irrelevant even if true. People are organizing heroic actions, attracting solidarity from around the country - why the f*** am I focusing on torched cars? Stupid.

..i share your concerns unionist. there is no way around it that movements need to learn ways to deal with violent elements that are contrary to the direction most people want to move in. we need to keep moving forward though and not get bogged down with endless debate about it. not that i'm suggest your doing that.

..i share your concerns unionist. there is no way around it that movements need to learn ways to deal with violent elements that are contrary to the direction most people want to move in. we need to keep moving forward though and not get bogged down with endless debate about it. not that i'm suggest your doing that.

That's exactly what I was doing - and I retract it. You're right. An important struggle is unfolding, and what's needed now is solidarity in words and deeds - not criticism from the sidelines.

Indeed he is doing exactly that. However that is because he is a pragmatic politican who is trying to get into power. You know gage where the public is on an issue and then promise them what you think they want. Its easy when your only ideology is pragmatism. That used to be one of the core definitions of a Liberal so indeed he also sounds like a Liberal while doing it.

I can only hope that enough of the Acadian community comes forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with their historic allies to blunt the racist norms in NB.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives and the governing NDP are both offering some traditional law-and-order solutions.

Premier Greg Selinger’s New Democrats have made tackling crime No. 4 on their list of five key issues. They are promising “more police, faster prosecutions and tougher consequences,” although their plans have yet to be fleshed out. [...]

So far, Liberal Jon Gerrard is the only one of the three party leaders to tackle the issue head-on.

He wants to see another $1.2 million spent to reduce wait times for people seeking treatment for addictions. Gerrard says research shows 70 per cent of people convicted of violent crimes have substance abuse problems.

“Make sure that people don’t commit crimes in the first place,” he said Wednesday. “It doesn’t solve problems by filling jails up.”

The NDP has long since become the party of LAW and ORDER. The Manitoba NDP criticized Harper's latest omnibus crime bill for not going far enough on various fronts. And Jack Layton's NDP supported that other Harper omnibus crime bill and disciplined Bill Siksay for voting his conscience. I recall, at that time, that the only other voice in Parliament talking about prevention rather than punishment (which used to be considered a progressive stand, no?) was Senator Sharon Carstairs, ex-leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

So no, Boom Boom, this retrograde pandering Dominic Cardy doesn't sound like a freaking liberal. He sound exactly like what quizzical said. The New Democratic Panderers. It's a sad day.

My first reaction to that NDP statement was disappointment. I read the entire page again, and it's still disappointment. Where is the outright solidarity with NB First Nations and the anti-fracking sentiment? Maybe I'm missing it....

Reporters and crew from Global and CTV were also attacked. I don't care who the media is (left or right), threatening the people and seizing their equipment is wrong. If you don't want the media scrutiny find another way to protest—become a keyboard warrior.

Reporters and crew from Global and CTV were also attacked. I don't care who the media is (left or right), threatening the people and seizing their equipment is wrong. If you don't want the media scrutiny find another way to protest—become a keyboard warrior.

Actually, any media person who is too chicken-shit scared to cover places where people are fighting for their rights really has two choices:

1. Get a real job (though admittedly there may be a qualifications problem if their résumé only lists experience with the MSM).

2. Apply to be "embedded" with the forces of law and order. That way, they can be protected from the masses, while at the same time never getting hit by rubber or real bullets, because it'll be even more clear which side they're on.

A senior RCMP officer warned Friday reinforcements reportedly travelling to New Brunswick to bolster Mi’kmaq ranks could lead to a repeat of the heavily-armed raid of a warrior society-anchored anti-fracking encampment by RCMP tactical units the day before.

It is not surprising to Indigenous Nations that the RCMP invaded the site of a peaceful protest, using snipers, rubber bullets, threat tactics amongst women and children and elders and warriors. It is not surprising that the mass media is painting our peaceful defense of Mother Earth as rebellion or radicalism. It is not even surprising that so many people do not know what is happening outside of the social network circuits.

Abuse is a cyclical and silent entity, slow to show its face, silent in its makings and creation. Abuse is adamant to hide itself ethically behind social curtains and excuses. Abuse holds itself upright behind shrouds of people who accept it. Abuse is manipulative and assertive, but at the same time, very sinewy, only showing itself when caught; and even then, its face is distorted behind multi-layered lies and a history of excuses and irresponsibility and unaccountability.

The people who support the abusers do so either by manipulation, or choice. Either they do not want to accept that someone is being brutalized, or they do not want to accept the fact that they love the abuser, are involved in acknowledging the actions of the abuser, or that they are party to understanding that abuse is actually happening. If they do, then a responsibility occurs. Then there is accountability, and few people are willing to accept this. This is what I see when I observe and understand what is happening in Elsipogtog, the Mi’kmaq Nation who has come under focus for many of us. I see abuse, in no small terms. I see power and non-responsibility and non-accountability. I see all of the inner-workings of all of the abuse structures that have existed for hundreds of years, but yet, people still seem surprised at what is happening. That says everything about the knowledge of historical Canada. That expressed, there are still so many North Americans who have no idea what has been happening in Canada for the last 7 centuries or so....

Most MSM are ill intentioned and attack the people's causes, especially indigenous rights. They are a weapon deployed to damage and destroy struggles. Here is an example, the latest Sun-spew by Ezra Levant..

"Throughout the summer, police arrested dozens of people conducting non-violent civil disobedience. But since the arrival of members of the Mi'kmaq society, the police have not been as keen to come near protesters.."

Most MSM are ill intentioned and attack the people's causes, especially indigenous rights. They are a weapon deployed to damage and destroy struggles. Here is an example, the latest Sun-spew by Ezra Levant..

The Penguin (Ezra Levant) is not a journalist—he's said so many times—he's a provocateur at best or a shill for the oil industry at worst. Using anything the Penguin says or writes as an example of what the media does is as valid as saying the hotheads who torched the RCMP's cars, or who came to the protest armed with rifles, molotov cocktails, and IEDs are typical of the anti-fracking protestors.

Quote:

Most MSM are ill intentioned and attack the people's causes, especially indigenous rights.

The news director for Global New Brunswick says a group of about five protesters in Rexton, N.B., seized a news vehicle and camera and threatened a reporter Saturday. Rexton is about 100 kilometres north of Moncton.

Jim Haskins says reporter Laura Brown was at the site of the shale gas protest around noon local time when the protesters confronted another media outlet and seized a vehicle.

Haskins says Brown got into her vehicle and locked the door, but was threatened by the protesters and told to get out of the vehicle and leave it.

He says Brown refused at first, but felt the situation became unsafe and unstable.

APTN National News reports that police moved in on protesters near Rexton, N.B., to enforce an injunction against a barricade blocking a company from completing shale gas exploration. Police reportedly arrested several activists, prompting resident from the Mi’kmaq community of Elsipogtog to swarm the protest site.

The RCMP has confirmed that more than 40 people were arrested on firearms offences and charges of uttering threats, intimidation, mischief and ignoring a court injunction.

The leadership from Elsipogtog made it clear that the harassment of reporters was unacceptable and, in a public meeting today, apologized to the media involved for the actions of the individuals involved (who in turn have been banned from the site for what they did).

There are many questions regarding the illegal firearms - 3 rifles, some knives and what RCMP called explosive devices (made from fireworks) - that may or may not have belonged to anyone involved with the protests.

There are allegations of agent provocateurs being responsible for setting the cars on fire, with the unusual step of one being identified by name.

Interestingly, there are no charges related to the cars burning, which creates more room for doubt on that issue and assures that the factual questions will remain unresolved while the media impression remains firmly affixed in the minds of the public.

But some, in this thread and elsewhere, insist on blaming the entire protest for actions in which the real protesters may have had no role, accepting at face value all allegations against the Elsipogtog First Nation. Meanwhile, the clearly violent and provocative behaviour of the RCMP receives no comment. Fascinating.

The first one does list firearms offense as one of the charges, as did you. But it was an early hours story, and also referrs to 40 arrests and charges, there were only 8 people charged ever.... and at the time the story was filed, zero charges laid.

So I return to what I said above:

KenS wrote:

So far it is just the RCMP claiming they found the weapons "under tents" after they arrested everyone in the encampment.

KenS wrote:

[And then let most of them go quickly- tacit acknowledgement there was never anything they could be charged with.]

In the case of Elsipogtog, abuse was manifested in a volatile and immediate way. The minute that the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous people was done his observation, Canada stepped in to show their power against the peaceful protests and rightful protection of the ahki.

Power was displayed abusively and aggressively, attacking children, elders, women and warriors. They sent men with guns to try to aggressively dissuade and to dismantle Indigenous voices, providing the promise of no media and no UN involvement. It became a free-for-all, a space to attempt to scare with snipers and false bullets the lives and intent and protectivity of Indigenous people. They believed that we may not have been resilient enough to withstand pressure. This expresses the lack of knowledge that they have toward our Nations in a general sense. They have no understanding that we are intricately woven together and have a memory within us of opposition. They do not recognize our position of peace. They do not understand it. They do not understand the mentality of continual abuse and how the victim of such abuse, has the ability to withstand the most dire of circumstances and still survive....

The leadership from Elsipogtog made it clear that the harassment of reporters was unacceptable and, in a public meeting today, apologized to the media involved for the actions of the individuals involved (who in turn have been banned from the site for what they did).

I'm glad the leadership recognized the actions of those individuals and banned them from the sight. A bunch of guys threatening and forcing a woman out of her vehicle is wrong regardless of who she works for.

Quote:

There are many questions regarding the illegal firearms - 3 rifles, some knives and what RCMP called explosive devices (made from fireworks) - that may or may not have belonged to anyone involved with the protests.

The latest story I read said the firearms were "legal" however the context of where and how they were placed were not for hunting purposes.

There is a possibility that they could be charged for something seemingly minor under the firearms act like inpropper storage of a firearm (if they didn't have a trigger lock) or storing ammunition and firearms together but it depends on the details of the state the weapons were found in and whether the RCMP want to fight that battle or not.

Quote:

There are allegations of agent provocateurs being responsible for setting the cars on fire, with the unusual step of one being identified by name.

Interestingly, there are no charges related to the cars burning, which creates more room for doubt on that issue and assures that the factual questions will remain unresolved while the media impression remains firmly affixed in the minds of the public.

I think the cars were left in a vunerable position on purpose in the hopes that they would be set on fire and images and video captured and put on the news. The police loose a few cars that our taxes paid for but it dejects from the 'peaceful protest' mantra. Not a dumb move by them.

You are right, Paladin. I should have put quotation marks around "illegal" as that was the sense in which I intended the comment. Your conclusion around the intent of the police with regard to their cars is one possible interpretation. We'll probably never know for sure. No doubt that image will be the only one many people will keep from the event. Whether that is "dumb" depends on one's perspective, but I understand what you mean.

I don't believe for a second that the protesters set a cop car on fire (for contrast, I found the story of harrassing the Sun reporter very plausible, and was not surprised when it was confirmed by the leadership).

Why don't I believe it? Not just because there is no point to such nonsense (this isn't a hockey riot. It's not a party. The protesters aren't there to fuck shit up like it's Friday night. Their intentions are very serious.), not just because the use of agent provocateurs is a well-established fact in situations like these, but mostly because the burning of cop cars in particular has become the preferred tactic of such agents. If there's one thing you could never accuse our overlords of, it's imagination.

It's gotten to the point that whenever there's a large-scale, politically inconvenient protest nowadays, I sit and wait for inevitable pictures of a burning police vehicle. With no charges laid or suspects identified. No eyewitness account of how it got burnt (Is it common practice now for police to abandon their vehicles in the middle of large protests? Were they all at lunch?). And frequently surrounded by actual police doing nothing to stop the fire. It's an action that makes zero sense from the protester's point of view, but is clearly advantageous to anyone trying to discredit them, and it keeps happening over and over.

Ockham's razor, man. It's clear who benefits from these mystery arsons that nobody ever has any information about.

There is a possibility that they could be charged for something seemingly minor under the firearms act like inpropper storage of a firearm (if they didn't have a trigger lock) or storing ammunition and firearms together but it depends on the details of the state the weapons were found in and whether the RCMP want to fight that battle or not.

Not only RCMP not want to fight that battle, but not want to lay minor charges after the drama of the police talking about threats to public safety.

Not to mention that the prosecutors likely would have no interest in taking the charges to court.

The blunt truth- though no one will ever be able to prove this- is that the RCMP wanted the ecampment out of there first, for the planned breaking of the blockade. So they arrested everyone- knowing that few charges would come of it.

Then of course they have to put out their bullshit case about the "dangers" of leaving the encampment there.

Beneath an overcast October night veiling the moon, with police lights spraying the darkness red and blue, a group of four women walked up the exit ramp blocked by the RCMP cruisers.

As they lit thick strands of sweetgrass, two RCMP officers with flashlights approached them and asked what they were doing.

“We’re out here walking,” said one of the women.

The RCMP officer said he had no problem with them walking. He said the exit was shut down because the ramp led to a section of Route 134 that has been reduced to one-lane by the anti-fracking encampment that remains despite Thursday’s heavily armed RCMP raid on the site.....